Are laymen Buddhists or Taoists?
In traditional Chinese culture, laymen are an important identity symbol. However, there are different views on the question of whether lay people are Buddhists or Taoists. This article will discuss the question of the attribution of lay people from multiple perspectives such as history, culture, and religion.
1. Historical origins.
In Chinese history, lay scholars first appeared in the pre-Qin period and were literati with high cultural literacy. They were hermits, bureaucrats, literati, and merchants, but they all had one thing in common: they were religious.
After Buddhism was introduced to China, some lay people began to believe in Buddhism. They studied the Buddhist scriptures, practiced the Dharma, and became members of the Buddhist community. In the process of the development of Taoism, there were also some lay people who joined it and became believers in Taoism. Thus, from a historical point of view, lay people have both followers of Buddhism and Taoism.
2. Cultural traditions.
In traditional Chinese culture, laymen are regarded as a cultural identity, with high cultural literacy and artistic attainments. They are not only religious believers, but also cultural bearers. In both Buddhism and Taoism, layman is a way of practicing to achieve peace of mind and purification.
In Buddhism, lay people practice the Dharma and pursue liberation and nirvana. In Taoism, lay people practice Taoism, pursuing immortality and becoming immortals. Therefore, from a cultural point of view, lay people can be either Buddhist or Taoist believers.
3. Religious beliefs.
In both Buddhism and Taoism, layman is a form of practice. In Buddhism, lay people practice the Dharma by chanting Buddhas, chanting sutras, fasting, etc. In Taoism, lay people practice Taoism through qi training, alchemy, and drawing talismans. These practices are all aimed at achieving peace of mind and purification.
Therefore, from a religious point of view, lay people can be either Buddhists or Taoists.
IV. Conclusions. To sum up, lay people can be both Buddhists and Taoists. They are a cultural identity as well as a religious belief. In traditional Chinese culture, laymen play an important role. They are not only religious believers, but also cultural bearers. Their way of practicing is not only to achieve peace of mind and purification, but also to inherit and carry forward traditional culture. Therefore, we should respect everyone's choice of faith and should not simply classify lay people as Buddhists or Taoists. Search Topic Full Time Challenge December